Amaravati Declared Sole Capital by AP Reorganisation Amendment Bill
Why in the news
Parliament’s lower house cleared a law that fixes Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s single, lasting capital, so the question no longer rests on state government choices.
Key facts
- Bill: Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed by the Lok Sabha.
- Status given to Amaravati: sole and permanent capital.
- Effect date: June 2, 2024 (retrospective).
- Purpose: legal, statutory backing to end years of legal and political doubt.
- Legal basis: the Reorganisation Act is a Central Act under Articles 3 and 4, so only Parliament can amend it.
| Capital role | City in the three-capital model |
|---|---|
| Administrative | Visakhapatnam |
| Legislative | Amaravati |
| Judicial | Kurnool |
Background
- Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014: split the state to form Telangana; Hyderabad stayed joint capital for 10 years until 2024.
- Three-capital model: proposed by the previous YSRCP government to decentralise administration.
- Special Category Status: Central classification for states with geographic or socio-economic disadvantages, with 90:10 funding; still a pending demand of Andhra Pradesh.
Significance
- Law passed by Parliament is far harder for future state governments to undo by executive orders.
- The Union government has effectively closed the door on reviving a multi-capital model.
- Supporters expect Amaravati to grow into a tier-1 city; the opposition stressed that Visakhapatnam and other cities must also develop.
Exam angle
- Constitutional hook: Articles 3 and 4 (formation and alteration of states).
- Pending demand linked to the state: Special Category Status (90:10 funding).
- Judicial capital under the dropped three-capital plan: Kurnool.